Nealla Gordon

Lucious must defend Empire’s IPO launch after controversies arise around one of his artists being involved in a shooting, and Cookie proves to be invaluable by helping Lucious turn a crisis into a triumph. Competition between Lucious and Cookie heats up when Cookie hears of Lucious’s plan to stage a huge performance for Hakeem – but not Jamal. Meanwhile, the police begin to investigate Bunkie’s murder.

The Lyons head to Philadelphia and get a taste of what their life could have been if Lucious hadn’t made it big. Lucious promotes Hakeem’s new relationship with hip-hop star Tianna, but tensions rise when another woman tries to catch Hakeem’s eye.

Cookie receives an anonymous gift from an admirer that she believes might be a veiled threat from a person from her prison past. Meanwhile, Lucious takes charge of Hakeem’s first video shoot.

Vince agrees to a starlet's pet project; Eric reluctantly lets a Perfect Ten model 'take care of him' at a beach party, where Turtle misrepresents his position to get a girl; Drama develops calf envy; and Ari gets steamed up convincing the boys to read the 'Aquaman' script.

The women decide to go ahead with the big dinner party the late Mary Alice had planned to host, despite the more-than-minor disturbances in their own lives, as adulterous Gabrielle finds herself with a nine-year-old blackmailer (guest star Emily Christine). Bree struggles to keep her crumbling marriage a secret and Susan bares all – in more ways than one – as she confronts her ex (guest star Richard Burgi).